2024 Speaker Lineup

Dan Biederman is a pioneering urban redeveloper who transformed neglected areas of midtown Manhattan. He founded the Bryant Park Corporation, 34th Street Partnership, and Grand Central Partnership in the 1980s, focusing on revitalizing public spaces through private management. His consulting firm, BRV Corp., has supported similar efforts across major U.S. cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, and Miami.

Bryant Park, reopened in 1991 under Biederman's leadership, saw crime reduced by nearly 100%, earning national recognition. His work on the 34th Street District, including the redesign of Herald and Greeley Square parks, has similarly enhanced the area's safety, cleanliness, and aesthetics. The streetscape projects he initiated have won numerous awards, helping to "brand" the district.